Johnny O’Connell Joins SKI Autosports For 2023 GT America Season

After a successful part-time debut season in SRO’s GT America series last year, Atlanta-based SKI Autosports will return to GT America – with legendary sports car racer Johnny O’Connell driving their Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

SKI Autosports will begin their season at NOLA Motorsports Park in April, and are planning to run the remaining seven race meetings in the 2023 calendar.

“2022 was a due diligence year for the team, running three weekends in GT America and looking toward setting our future plans,” said team co-owner Kent Hussey.

“We were delighted by the professionalism and organization of the GT America staff, and happy with the performance of our Ferrari 458 GT3. With the positives we took from this season, we have committed to running almost a full season in 2023.”

Andy Pilgrim drove SKI Autosports and their vintage Ferrari GT3 to their first GT America victory this August at Road America, plus three more podiums at VIRginia International Raceway, Road America, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“The team did a great job in 2022 with our limited SRO schedule posting a win at Road America and a couple of runner-up finishes. In addition, we secured two wins in the Gold Cup championship. We are ready to take the next step and commit to more races in 2023,” added Hussey.

O’Connell, now 60 years young, brings with him one of the most decorated track records in endurance sports car racing.

In a career that has spanned over 300 professional races since his debut in 1986, he has four wins in the premier GT class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – in 1994, 2001, 2002, and 2009. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona overall in 2001 with Corvette Racing, and the 12 Hours of Sebring overall in 1994 with Nissan/Clayton Cunningham Racing – and has a record eight class victories at Sebring’s marquee event.

He has also won three American Le Mans Series class championships (2003, 2004, 2008), and for the purpose of his return to SRO America competition, he won four consecutive World Challenge GT titles from 2012 to 2015 as the ace driver of the factory Cadillac Racing team.

“It goes without saying that I’m super excited about 2023 and driving for Kent and Melissa (Hussey) at SKI Autosports,” said O’Connell, who will race in SRO America for the first time since 2018.

“I’m also looking forward to competing in SRO competition again. Even though things have changed a lot there over the past five years, World Challenge racing remains as some of the most fun racing I’ve done. I’m confident that working with Rossella (Manfrinato) and Phil (Creighton), we will find our way to the front once again.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Johnny and to be part of his return to SRO competition (previously known as World Challenge) where he has had so much success,” continued Hussey.

“Johnny was very comfortable racing the Ferrari at the Classic Daytona 24 earlier this month, and was extremely competitive until tyre issues ended our race. We are looking forward to greater success in 2023 with Johnny driving the team’s Ferrari 458 GT3.”

Images © SKI Autosports, SRO Motorsports America, Regis Lefebure

The post Johnny O’Connell Joins SKI Autosports For 2023 GT America Season first appeared on dailysportscar.com.